Tantra Workshops, Shabbat and Saying Goodbye

I know I say this a lot, but I'm still amazed by how fast the weeks go and how much actually happens during those 7 days. Last week was no exception. I made new friends, got in touch with my inner goddess and said goodbye (for now) to a dear, dear friend.

Last Wednesday our house was invited to a Tantra workshop run by Bridget, a woman Niki met while I was away. Bridget is British and now lives in Cusco (I think). The workshop was a beautiful lesson in getting in touch with the goddess within -- which also includes our sexuality. We did a lot of paired activities, switching partners every time. It was a wonderful way to connect with the women in the class and really appreciate how different we all are -- but at the same time bonded together as beautiful, strong women.

The exercises were incredibly interesting to me, especially as I get more introspective. For example, we spent 15-20 minutes lying on the floor with our hands on our breasts, breathing and sensing the energy inside of us, and I was surprised by how disconnected I felt to my breasts. I think I'm pretty aware of my sexuality and generally confident, but was shocked by how little I felt when I consciously touched such an important body part so connected with it.

After the workshop, we all felt the need for chocolate (typical women, eh?) and so we invited the other women to our house for good conversation, hot chocolate (I made from scratch -- turned out OK, not great), and quality time getting to know each other better. Almost everyone came and it was a wonderful way to end the afternoon.

As our workshop women started to leave, our friends Selena and Whitney came over to cook for Gab's last dinner. She was leaving the next day and since we had a can of coconut milk sitting in our kitchen for the past 5 months with Selena's promise to cook something with it, we finally got her to do so! She made the most delicious vegetable curry and we inhaled it. I will post the recipe as soon as I get it from Selena -- I promise.

Selena's amazing curry

And then on Thursday Gab left. I gave her a massage in the morning and then we all went out for a final lunch (a few puppies included) at our favorite Japanese restaurant, Kintaro. Gab said her goodbyes to all our friends and then she, Niki, Jess and I taxied back up to our house to help her gather her bags, put her in a cab and send her home. I held it together (barely) until she left, but I can definitely feel a loss here now that she's gone. I'm sure it will get filled soon with a new arrival, but no one can replace Gabs.

The group at Gab's goodbye lunch

Selena, Me and Heather with some of the pups




One last picture (for now) of the brujas.

And then on Friday, something completely unexpected happened. Kind of one of those "only in Peru" things, but I guess it could happen anywhere there are open minds and hearts. Lea and I were having lunch at Prasada, a vegetarian shack around the corner from my house, when three guys came in and asked (in painfully bad Spanish) if all the food was vegetarian. I told them it was and translated a little between them and the cook/owner. We all got to talking and turns out they were Orthodox Jews traveling through Peru and they invited us to their Shabbat dinner that night. Unfortunately, they didn't really have a place to hold a Shabbat dinner let alone cook one, so I offered our house for the occasion and to do most of the cooking.

I take any opportunity to cook here in Peru as a challenge -- especially when it's a feast. Remember, I have no fridge, my oven/2-burner stove combo looks like an Easy-bake contraption and there's almost no counterspace. And after what I created in that kitchen, I think I'm ready for my Iron Chef appearance.

Sooooo, I took the boys to Mega, our big grocery store, and they bought all the necessary items I selected to make our feast. Then I had less than 2 hours to prepare it all because everything needs to be cooked before sundown. But I'm a pro, right? You betcha.

The menu:
Sweet potato latkes with homemade apple sauce and tzaziki (yogurt/dill sauce)
Lentils with risotto
Potato salad (one of the guys made this -- so much mayo!)
Tuna salad (again, one of the guys made this -- still not sure why)
Fruit salad w/mango, strawberries and banana
Garden salad w/homemade dressing
Rum (ok, I didn't "make" that, but it was still served)
Ginger honey tea

We laid out a blanket on the floor of my room and enjoyed picnic-style -- after saying all the prayers and lighting the Shabbat candles (which I did, as the lady of the house). Conversation was lively and entertaining and lasted until about midnight. A good time was had by all and we made enough food for leftovers for the boys the next day (they can't cook anything until sundown on Saturday).

The gang of Jews

So now the house is even quieter. Jess and Niki have both gone back to the U.S. for the holidays, so it's just me and Alvaro (Niki's boyfriend who lives upstairs). It's kind of nice but at the same time a little lonely. Fortunately, Humberto gets back from his job in Lima on Friday and Lea returns from her weeklong Ayahuasca retreat on Saturday, so I just have to hold out a few days more...